Love Poem: Iceberg
Constance Gilmore Avatar
Written by: Constance Gilmore

Iceberg

You think you know me because I’m so open 
You just have me all figured out. 
There is more to me than meets the eye 
And with that, there is no doubt. 
Yes I am hard because life has taught me to be, 
But I actually possess much sensitivity. 
Yes I am guarded because I have been hurt, 
But I have an abundance of love inside of me. 
Despite my reputation for bashing all men, 
I believe they are beautifully strong creatures. 
I love everything about the male species: 
Their build, their strength, their masculine features. 
Yes I graduated college, the first in my family to do so, 
But I still feel like I have failed. 
I even obtained a professional license the first try, 
Yet I feel as if my life has been derailed. 
I have grown up as an abused child; 
Without these poems, you wouldn’t know it. 
I internalize much of my pain and hurt; 
I’m more damaged than I’m willing to admit. 
I see my future and it looks so bright, 
But I’m scared of being a success. 
I’m scared I may actually be great at something 
And that is something that I reluctantly confess. 
I am a single mother doing it all on my own, 
Something I do take much pride in. 
However, I feel that I have let my daughter down 
By choosing a man that isn’t providing. 
Because I allowed him to emotionally ruin me, 
I hesitate to fully trust another man. 
However, I sincerely want to trust openly 
But I have a very hard time doing so again. 
You think you know me? I don’t think you do. 
I’m giving you only about 10% of me. 
Take the time to get to really know me, 
The 90% that most people cannot see.